PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Instant Digital Card

Bring new users to your library in just 30 seconds with Instant Digital Card (IDC)*

160 million. That’s the number of people in the United States without a library card.

Libraries like yours work hard to transform their communities, yet half the nation has yet to benefit from their valuable programs. We want to help more community members discover your online services, available for free, anytime and anywhere.

That’s why we developed the Instant Digital Card (IDC) feature: to connect readers with your digital collection in just 30 seconds.

*Instant Digital Card is currently only available for public libraries in the United States.

How it works

  • Users see a prompt on the sign-in screen in the Libby app and on your library’s OverDrive website, giving them the option to use their mobile phone number to access your digital collection.
  • Users provide their name and mobile number.
  • Users’ eligibility is verified.
  • Users receive a one-time verification code via SMS to enter in the sign-in screen. (This ensures that only someone in possession of the mobile device can use that number to register.)
  • Your new library patrons can begin browsing and borrowing from your digital collection!

For your library

  • Your library enables IDC and provides OverDrive with a list of zip codes to define your service area.
  • When a user submits their mobile phone number, OverDrive looks up their address using a third-party service called Cognito. If their recent address matches a zip code in your library’s service area, we issue them access to your digital collection.
  • Your library manages new sign-ups in an OverDrive-hosted portal called User Login Manager (ULM). For each new patron, you’re provided with their mobile number, name, and address, and you can use this information to invite them to sign up for a full library card.
  • A patron’s IDC access will expire after one year, but we can customize the access period to meet your library’s needs.

If you are interested in adding IDC to your library’s OverDrive service, please contact your OverDrive Account Manager today.

Tablet displaying OverDrive's mobile sign up page for the Los Angeles Public Library. The heading on the page reads 'No library card? No problem.'

Spread the word

IDC Social Graphic

SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHICS

IDC Social Graphic

This kit contains Editable Word document & How-to document.

IDC Social Graphic

Download Graphic

Social Graphic – No Problem

SOCIAL MEDIA GRAPHICS

Social Graphic – No Problem

This kit contains Editable Word document & How-to document.

Social Graphic – No Problem

Download Graphic

IDC on the rise

Libby created 34,000 Instant Digital Cards during National Library Card Sign-Up Month

4/16/2021

For several years, a growing list of libraries have used the OverDrive Instant Digital Card program as a quick and simple tool to supplement efforts to find new library users. OverDrive’s Instant Digital Card (IDC) service embedded in Libby enables readers in your community to sign up…

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OverDrive’s Instant Digital Card program creates half a million new library users

4/16/2021

Libraries have seen a 256% increase in Instant Digital Card signups since mid-March.

For several years, dozens of libraries have been utilizing the OverDrive Instant Digital Card (IDC) program as a quick and simple tool to supplement efforts to find new library users…

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Record number of new library patrons are using Instant Digital Card

4/16/2021

With library buildings closed, hundreds of thousands of readers have gained free, secure access to ebooks and audiobooks in the last five weeks.

Recently, we shared a story about how dozens…

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